---
title: le — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «le» in the school dictionary: «Le» means «the» in French, used before a masculine word: «le chat» is «the cat». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/le/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [L](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/) / le

# le

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Le, French, It, you, le chat, teacher · **What happens:** mean, use, be, sound, not be, meet · **To what, where:** French, cat, English word, word, French names, le livre · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«le» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [le in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/le.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: French — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Le» means «the» in French, used before a masculine word: «le chat» is «the cat».

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:le:m1:1
# text = «Le» means «the» in French, used before a masculine word: «le chat» is «the cat».
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Le	Le	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	24	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	French	French	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	24	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	acl	_	_
12	before	before	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	masculine	masculine	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	19	punct	_	_
17	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	le	le	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	compound	_	_
19	chat	chat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	19	punct	_	_
21	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	24	cop	_	_
22	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	24	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
24	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	24	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Le |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  | the French *not said here* |  |  | before a masculine word |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | the French | the cat |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It sounds like «luh» to an English ear, with a short soft vowel.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:le:m2:1
# text = It sounds like «luh» to an English ear, with a short soft vowel.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	sounds	sound	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	like	like	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	luh	luh	INTJ	UH	_	2	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	English	English	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	ear	ear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
12	with	with	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
14	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
15	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
16	vowel	vowel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sound** | present | It |  |  |  |  | to a English ear | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ PP.experiencer»: agent=Stimulus to ear=Experiencer |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It is not an English word, but you meet it in French names and phrases that English has borrowed.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:le:m3:1
# text = It is not an English word, but you meet it in French names and phrases that English has borrowed.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
4	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	English	English	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	10	nsubj	_	_
10	meet	meet	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	French	French	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	names	name	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obl	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	phrases	phrase	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	conj	_	_
17	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	20	nsubj:pass	_	_
18	English	English	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	20	nsubj:pass	_	_
19	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	20	aux	_	_
20	borrowed	borrow	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	14	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is a** | present | It | a English word |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **meet** | present | you | word |  | French names and phrases |  |  | vn meet-36.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Co-Agent |
| 3 | **borrow** | present · perfect · passive |  | French names and phrases |  |  |  |  | vn obtain-13.5.2 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In French, «le chat» means «the cat».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:le:x1:1
# text = In French, «le chat» means «the cat».
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	French	French	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	le	le	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	chat	chat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
8	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | le chat | the cat |  |  |  | in French | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot cat=Theme in french=Attribute |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our teacher wrote «le livre» on the board and said it means «the book».

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:le:x2:1
# text = Our teacher wrote «le livre» on the board and said it means «the book».
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	le	le	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	livre	livre	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
8	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	board	board	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
14	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	ccomp	_	_
15	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | past | Our teacher | le livre |  | the board |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent livre=Theme on board=Destination |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | Our teacher *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **mean** | present | teacher | the book |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent book=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Le» sounds a bit like «luh».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:le:x3:1
# text = «Le» sounds a bit like «luh».
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Le	Le	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	sounds	sound	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl:unmarked	_	_
7	like	like	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	luh	luh	INTJ	UH	_	4	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sound** | present | Le | a bit |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Quebec street sign said «Le Vieux-Port».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:le:x4:1
# text = The Quebec street sign said «Le Vieux-Port».
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	Quebec	Quebec	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
3	street	street	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	sign	sign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	Le	Le	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
8	Vieux	Vieux	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	Port	Port	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the Quebec street sign |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In French class we sorted words into «le» words and «la» words.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:le:x5:1
# text = In French class we sorted words into «le» words and «la» words.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	French	French	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
4	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
5	sorted	sort	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	_
7	into	into	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	le	le	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	_
11	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	la	la	X	GW	_	16	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	_
16	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sort** | past | we | words |  |  |  | in French class *goal*; into le words and words | vn classify-29.10 «NP V NP PP.goal»: agent=Agent word=Theme in class=Goal |
| 2 | **word** |  | la |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Le garçon» means «the boy».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:le:x6:1
# text = «Le garçon» means «the boy».
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Le	Le	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	garçon	garçon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	boy	boy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Le garçon | the boy |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent boy=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The café in our town is called «Le Petit Café».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:le:x7:1
# text = The café in our town is called «Le Petit Café».
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	café	café	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	town	town	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	Le	Le	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
10	Petit	Petit	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	Café	Café	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present · passive |  | the café in our town |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
From ‘Le Foyer Breton,’ par E.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:le:x8:1
# text = From ‘Le Foyer Breton,’ par E.
1	From	from	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	‘	'	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	Le	Le	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	Foyer	Foyer	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	Breton	Breton	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	flat	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	’	'	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
8	par	par	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	E.	E.	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	list	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [lazybones](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lazybones/)
- next →: [leach](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/leach/)
- ↑ back to [L in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/)